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But then what?

The reality was that he didn’t have a plan or a damn clue what he would do when he got there, or what he would even say. All he knew was that he couldn’t just stand by and let whatever was happening run its course, especially if Evie was somehow involved.

Ethan rounded the side of the mansion, his shoes slipping on the slick grass. The mansion’s tall windows glowed high above, its angular windows illuminated within by a warm light, cutting into the night sky.

He paused as his chest tightened.

Ugh…fuck…

Ethan doubled over mid-stride, his lungs burning despite his slowing pace. He groaned and pressed his hand into his chest, as if he could force the air in. His throat felt like it was closing, so he yanked his bow tie from his neck, tossing it to the ground.

He realized how little energy he had in him, running solely off fumes and adrenaline, but he couldn’t stop. Not when he was this close to understanding how Preston, Evie, and this woman were all connected.

Ethan forced himself upright, taking another shaky step forward. But before he could even get one foot in front of the other, he stumbled and clutched his face.

Light exploded across his vision as a pair of golden eyes burned their image into his retinas. He pressed his palms against his eyes, blinking hard.

What—No. Not now. Not fucking now.

He shook his head, whirling around in his blinded state. Stumbling forward, he tripped over the slick grass and roots covering the shoreline. Finally, the golden flashes slowly faded, but the lingering shape of eyes floated in the darkness of his vision.

When his eyes fully returned to normal, he squinted and saw a dock up ahead. The wooden structure extended out over the bay, lit by two lamp posts, and Ethan saw the shape of two figures towards the far end. It was far enough away that he couldn't make out the details aside from their shadows dancing under the light, and he knew it must be them.

Ethan pushed forward, his pace quickening as he got closer to the back of the mansion. Just as he was about to reach the dock, something gripped his foot, throwing him off balance.

The world tilted around him as he stumbled forward to the ground, his body slamming face-first into the muck.

Ethan groaned as he pushed himself up onto his hands and knees. Mud and cold salt water soaked his clothes, weighing him down.

What the hell?

Ethan looked back to where he’d fallen, confused and searching for the source, but there was nothing there except smooth grass. Struggling to his feet, he realized his legs didn’t feel right.

They were heavy. So incredibly heavy. As if he were wading through chest-deep water.

He ripped his jacket off, tossing the waterlogged fabric to the side as it hit the water next to him with a wet slap. Despite it all, the feeling of being weighed down, like anchors were strapped to his legs, still persisted.

Every step forward took twice the effort, like gravity itself was trying to hold him back from getting to them.

Ethan winced as the pressure in his head mounted, squeezing his skull. Groaning from the pain, he pressed his palms against his temples.

No. No. No.

He was so close to them. So close to understanding what the fuck was happening.

I..have…to keep…going.

Moonlight filtered through the patchwork of clouds, illuminating the area around him in silver. Ethan grunted, his muscles screaming in protest against the constricting weight on his legs.

That’s when he looked down and saw it.

Tendrils of shadows writhed around his legs. Living, moving shadows, coiled around his calves and thighs like snakes. Ethan’s eyes darted around, following their path. The shadows extended from the water’s edge where the bay lapped against the yard.

His eyes went wide as he stared down in shock, his mind unable to process what he was seeing.

The shadows were solid, and he felt them against his skin through his clothes, cold and tight.

“What the fuck⁠—”